Dog Community

Herding Instinct Test

Posted : 7/12/2009 8:46:38 AM

Both my boys passed with flying colors! They were every bit as good as the Border Collie before them (with slightly more confidence and slightly less obedience for the "stranger" handler).

Video of Nikon:
http://www.vimeo.com/5554641

(Coke also had a video but it's slightly out of focus and looks pretty much the same except he barks a bit more)

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3710633302_896530f89d.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/3710634294_aec88d9bdd.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3709823783_c5b3e80f25.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3709825913_6cee3136ed.jpg[/img]

He put that white one right back!
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3709832961_bc18b74167.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3709834883_ab212634c9.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3709850933_2ac9238a21.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/3710664458_2ac9e52ce1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/3709854955_25618b9bd2.jpg[/img]

Coke belongs on a farm. He went directly to the cool dirt under the pick-up.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2490/3710669334_9499697f1a.jpg[/img]

Coke did great, considering we have no idea what he is, and he doesn't show much motivation for other forms of training involving food or toys.

Nikon went after those sheep like he has been waiting for this every second of his young life (I supposed he has and he just didn't know it, considering his motherline kennel)
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/3710672680_6052c26a3b.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3710681132_0ff15f7a88.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3709871095_c756f32b85.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3709872983_999bb013d6.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3709884835_874231840a.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/3709886901_d53200b2b5.jpg[/img]

jennie_c_d

Posted : 7/12/2009 8:59:34 AM

Oh, how cool!!! It looks like they had a blast!

Anonymous

Posted : 7/12/2009 9:04:02 AM

Oh Coke we knew your werent just an ol' pet! You just hadnt found the right sport! Hope your mom takes you back for more!

And Nikon of course looks great at everything he does.

Joker says he's jealous. He says there are stuff out there that actually need to be chased?! Can he come live you?

Chuffy

Posted : 7/12/2009 2:16:05 PM

I love the pics, and they look they had had a great time. Did Kenya not have a go?

Liesje

Posted : 7/12/2009 3:51:37 PM

Kenya did one last spring

http://www.vimeo.com/1097792

stormyknight

Posted : 7/12/2009 4:38:15 PM

how cool! I would love to take two of my girls (the malinois of course) to an instinct test, but i'm not even sure if there are any around here...

Jewlieee

Posted : 7/12/2009 6:59:13 PM

That's where I take my dogs for herding lessons :)

Great pics! They look like they had fun

brookcove

Posted : 7/12/2009 7:26:48 PM

Who/where is that?

Stormyknight, where are you? I can find out who is closest and what they have planned.

Liesje

Posted : 7/12/2009 7:31:47 PM

Jewlieee
That's where I take my dogs for herding lessons :)

Cool! It's really close to us ("close" in terms of dog events where 3-5 hours would be "normal", lol).

Becca, it is Sharon Woolman in Grandville, MI. She's not an "official" judge or anything. We saw the sheep again today, see them everytime we go to the beach!

stormyknight

Posted : 7/12/2009 8:23:51 PM

brookcove
Stormyknight, where are you? I can find out who is closest and what they have planned.

Oh, well thank you! I would really appreciate that.

We're in NW Indiana, about 30 minutes outside Chicago. So, we're fairly close to IL, MI, WI as well.

Infiniti

Posted : 7/12/2009 10:34:14 PM

stormyknight
We're in NW Indiana, about 30 minutes outside Chicago. So, we're fairly close to IL, MI, WI as well.

I'm from the Chicago suburbs, and the only one I'm really aware of around here is Dancing Hearts in Manhattan, IL. (Becca if you know of good farms, I'd love to know as well! Smile ) I've never tried Dancing Hearts, just researched them a little. They say they use a more holistic approach to herding. I really need to find a good herding farm as well, as I'm definitely itching to try it with Nike. Nike is in need of some good confidence builders, and since he already herds my bunnies for me, I'm hoping he'll enjoy herding in general.

It's great to see your dogs enjoying herding, Lies! And I love that Coke has apparently found a niche for himself. Smile

Jewlieee

Posted : 7/13/2009 8:06:34 AM

Is she letting you in on her lessons? I know she had a waiting list. I just canceled the rest of my lessons for July and August. I'm just working too much over time this summer to make it over there on Tues nights.

I haven't hooked up with my other trainer this year. Her fields got foot rot so she got rid of her sheep for a while.

Liesje

Posted : 7/13/2009 8:37:49 AM

No she still has a list. I might put Coke on it. I want Nikon to be more mature and under control first, plus he is a tad stick shy with our Schutzhund TD so I don't want him getting walloped with a paddle and such right now.

brookcove

Posted : 7/13/2009 9:14:23 AM

Sharon is cool - I'm familiar with her though have never met her. There's a trial association called Land of Lincoln BC Association - try contacting Kathy Heinlenman on the Members list (tell her Becca Shouse sent you) - and explain you are looking for an all breed person close to you.

Or just contact Sharon (LOL). But it sounds like she's busy.

I know someone who went to Dancing Hearts and I really wasn't impressed. I would definitely not recommend her approach for a Malinois. With the tending style breeds you want to start with impulse control first.

stormyknight

Posted : 7/16/2009 8:27:33 PM

brookcove
Sharon is cool - I'm familiar with her though have never met her. There's a trial association called Land of Lincoln BC Association - try contacting Kathy Heinlenman on the Members list (tell her Becca Shouse sent you) - and explain you are looking for an all breed person close to you.
Or just contact Sharon (LOL). But it sounds like she's busy.
I know someone who went to Dancing Hearts and I really wasn't impressed. I would definitely not recommend her approach for a Malinois. With the tending style breeds you want to start with impulse control first.

Thank you SO MUCH! The "mighty mal", as we call her, is really pushing her limits with herding the cats. She's shockingly good at herding cats, but she's likely to lose an eye soon if she continues to insist that they stay in ordered formation! I would love to give her an outlet for her herding-ness, or at the very least, see if she has any real ability in it.

I've got a hellish ten days coming up, but I'll contact Kathy after that. Thanks again!